The Jeep pretty much invented off-roading in the 1940s. Now in the form of the Wrangler, the Jeep marque has moved from utilitarian runabout to luxurious trail tamer. Although you can still get a pretty minimalistic Wrangler (air conditioning is an option on Sport trims), most are sold with a fair amount of equipment and creature comforts. This makes them both more livable as daily drivers but as more enjoyable camping rigs, too.
While most off-road rigs have fixed roofs, the Wrangler is famous for its foldable soft-top and removable hardtop. If you have a soft-top Wrangler, a roof top tent, we are sad to say, isn’t right for you. That’s because there’s no provision for securing a roof to the top of your Wrangler. If you have a hardtop, though, you’re in luck because roof racks are available that allow you to enjoy both a roofless experience and also a rooftop tent. You might say it’s the best of both worlds.
In this post, we’ll highlight some of the best roof top tents for the Wrangler. We won’t, however, detail the various roof rack options you’ll need in order to mount a Roofnest tent. That’s because not only do the options vary widely by manufacturer, they also vary due to personal preferences and generation of vehicle. What might be right for a 2011 Wrangler Unlimited will not be true for a 2015 Wrangler 2-door.
Roof rack options might vary widely, but the good news is that virtually every Roofnest tent works perfectly for a Wrangler. Not surprisingly, Jeep designed the Wrangler to perfectly fit down tight trails but also accommodate must-have overlanding and camping gear, like a roof top tent. The result is a rig that is perfectly proportioned for every Roofnest rooftop tent model.
With that in mind, here are the top three roof top tents for the Jeep Wrangler.
1. Condor Overland
The Condor Overland is the best rooftop tent for a Jeep Wrangler (especially 2-door examples)
One of Roofnest’s latest roof top tents is the Condor Overland. It builds on the best-selling Condor fold-out tent and blends in some of the best features of the clamshell Falcon 2 tent. Namely, Condor Overland has an aluminum top shell that has accessory channels integrated around the perimeter. Because of these accessory channels, Condor Overland comes standard with top-shell crossbars, which can carry extra gear —up to 100 pounds when the tent is closed and 40 pounds when it’s open.
While Condor Overland includes crossbars and accessory channels like those of the Falcon 2, it has the compact fold-out design of the Condor. The Condor Overland folds down to just 60 inches long by 50 inches wide. This means if you mount the Condor Overland to the back of your Wrangler Unlimited’s roof, you will still be able to open the front Freedom Panels and let the sun and wind into the cabin.
2. Falcon 2
The second best roof top tent for Jeep Wrangler is the Falcon 2
Falcon 2 is Roofnest’s latest tent. But that’s not the only reason it’s on this list. It also happens to fit the Wrangler Unlimited perfectly —in both size and style. Not only is the footprint of the Falcon 2, at 88 inches long and 50 inches wide, almost exactly the same as the Wrangler Unlimited’s roof, Falcon 2 also rugged, boxy, and accessorize-able like the Wrangler itself.
At just 6.5 inches tall when closed, the Falcon 2 is slim and doesn’t add much overall height to the vehicle. This makes it ideal for lifted Wranglers who have to park in low-clearance garages.
Falcon 2 is made from aluminum and features accessory channels around its exterior. These accessory channels accept a standard M8 bolt and can hold up to 75 pounds of gear. Anything from shovels and axes to auxiliary lights — the most ubiquitous Wrangler accessories — can be affixed easily to the side of the Falcon 2. You can also use the accessory channels to attach the available crossbars. You can use those to carry even more gear atop your Wrangler.
The Wrangler was built to handle all weather conditions. The Falcon 2 was as well. Falcon 2 comes standard with a removable awning that deploys in seconds with two poles. This new awning design covers all three of the Falcon 2’s doors. Falcon 2 is even more comfortable inside than ever before. The tent material is an upgraded 320g poly-cotton canvas with a blackout coating. This means it keeps the weather and sun out better than ever.
3. Sparrow Adventure
The third best rooftop tent option for a Jeep Wrangler: the Roofnest Sparrow Adventure
Sparrow Adventure’s name says it all. It extends the adventure. At 85 inches long and 50 inches wide, Sparrow Adventure is also a great fit for Wrangler Unlimiteds. At 12 inches, it’s nearly double the thickness of the Falcon 2. But what you get with those 5.5 additional inches of height, you get a ton of usability. Namely, Sparrow Adventure has a big enough interior that you can leave your bedding inside the tent, even when it’s closed. This allows you to go from the driver seat to sleeping bag in around 90 seconds. Roofnest designers didn’t skimp on the mattress to achieve such a cavernous interior space either. Sparrow Adventure boasts a three-inch-thick foam mattress, too.
The versatility doesn’t end there. With standard crossbars that mount into the top shell, you can also bring extra gear along. Sparrow Adventure can hold 100 pounds of gear on its crossbars when closed and 40 pounds when open. Considering a standard kayak weighs about 35 pounds, the Sparrow Adventure can hold a great deal of gear. Sparrow Adventure can only sleep two people. However, since it’s a popup, each person gets plenty of head and foot room, which is rare in a tent its size and with the amount of features it has.
There you have it. We think those are the three best roof top tent options for the Jeep Wrangler. No matter which you choose, we know you’ll be happy with the decision.
Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes leads Roofnest's communications efforts. He is a long-time camper, off-roader, and overlander. Nick hails from Portland, Oregon, and on the weekends he can be found somewhere in the Oregon backcountry with his dog, Arlo.
